It was Pakistan’s eighth missile test so far this year and comes two months after its last test of a Hatf-VII with a range of 700 kilometres.

Five of those tests were conducted within a few weeks after India in April successfully test fired the Agni V, which can deliver a one-tonne nuclear warhead anywhere in China, marking a major advance in its military capabilities.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars — two over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir — and have routinely carried out missile tests since both demonstrated nuclear weapons capability in 1998.